A heartbroken York couple say they are being financially crippled by legal fees as they wait for a long-delayed inquest into the death of their son.

Maureen and Keith Archer, of Lucas Avenue, Clifton, said they had now spent more than £3,000 on retaining help from the Legal Aid Board after the sudden death of their 21-year-old son Craig.

He died at York Hospital in May 2001 after being admitted with colitis. An inquest was due to be held last October, but was adjourned for tests to be carried out on a nutrition tube used to feed him.

His family is retaining the services of solicitors in case they feel the need to take legal action - but are awaiting the result of his inquest to help them make that decision.

Maureen, 58, said a "heartbreaking" further 11 months had now passed and her family were no closer to learning more of the circumstances that led to his death.

She said: "It's really frustrating because we are working our socks off to pay our legal fees and we just don't seem to be getting anywhere at all.

"We have taken on two more cleaning jobs to cover the cost, but the longer it takes, the more money we have to pay.

"I just want to move on. I feel in my mind that I know what has happened, but it is just proving it and the inquest is an important step."

Daughter Tracey Cormack, 36, said: "It's putting real pressure on our family. I just want it all to come out. It's now nearly a year since the inquest started and almost two-and-a-half years since Craig died."

Stuart Handley, head of the clinical negligence department at York-based Langleys Solicitors, is representing the couple.

He said he understood that York Coroner Donald Coverdale was waiting for a report by the Medical Devices Agency on a piece of equipment used to care for Craig.

"The family's concern is that the inquest has been considerably delayed and this is holding up our investigation into their claim," he said.

But Mr Coverdale said the report had been received on August 7. He said: "The inquest regarding Craig Archer is to be held very shortly, other commitments have prevented a date being set and there is no delay."

Updated: 08:34 Thursday, September 04, 2003